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Citizenship Amendment Act: PM Modi defiant despite widespread protests Citizenship Amendment Act: India top court to hear petitions in January
(about 2 hours later)
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reacted with defiance to widespread protests against a new citizenship law. India's Supreme Court has said it will take up a clutch of petitions against a new citizenship law next month, as anger against it grows.
The court told the federal government to prepare a response to the petitions. The law has not been stayed.
The decision comes even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi reacted with defiance to widespread protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
The law offers citizenship to non-Muslims from three nearby countries.The law offers citizenship to non-Muslims from three nearby countries.
The government says it will protect people from persecution, but critics say it is part of a "Hindu nationalist" agenda to marginalise India's Muslims. The government, led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), says it will protect people from persecution, but critics say it's part of a "Hindu nationalist" agenda to marginalise India's more than 200 million Muslims.
Mr Modi said the law "will have no effect on citizens of India including Hindus, Muslims, Sikh, Jain, Christian and Buddhists". Adding to the fears is a government announcement that it plans to carry out a widespread exercise to weed out "infiltrators" from neighbouring countries.
Given that the exercise relies on extensive documentation to prove that their ancestors lived in India, many Muslim citizens fear that they could be made stateless.
However, Mr Modi said the law "will have no effect on citizens of India, including Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Jains, Christians and Buddhists".
The prime minister also told his supporters at a rally on Tuesday that the opposition was "spreading lies and rumours", "instigating violence" and "used its full force to create an atmosphere of illusion and falsehood".The prime minister also told his supporters at a rally on Tuesday that the opposition was "spreading lies and rumours", "instigating violence" and "used its full force to create an atmosphere of illusion and falsehood".
Home Minister Amit Shah echoed the sentiment to media saying "both my government and I are firm like a rock that we will not budge or go back on the citizenship protests".Home Minister Amit Shah echoed the sentiment to media saying "both my government and I are firm like a rock that we will not budge or go back on the citizenship protests".
Who is protesting and why?Who is protesting and why?
There have been demonstrations in cities across India.There have been demonstrations in cities across India.
Opponents say the law is exclusionary and violates the secular principles enshrined in the constitution. They say faith should not be made a condition of citizenship.Opponents say the law is exclusionary and violates the secular principles enshrined in the constitution. They say faith should not be made a condition of citizenship.
Others though - particularly in border states - fear being "overrun" by new arrivals from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.Others though - particularly in border states - fear being "overrun" by new arrivals from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Many of the student demonstrations focus less on the law itself but more on the alleged police brutality against protesters.Many of the student demonstrations focus less on the law itself but more on the alleged police brutality against protesters.
The capital Delhi has seen mass protest over the past days after a student protest on Sunday turned violent and left dozens injured.The capital Delhi has seen mass protest over the past days after a student protest on Sunday turned violent and left dozens injured.
How violent are the protests?How violent are the protests?
On Tuesday, images from the city's Seelampur area, which has a strong Muslim population, showed stone-throwing crowds confronting police officers. Police retaliated with tear gas and batons.On Tuesday, images from the city's Seelampur area, which has a strong Muslim population, showed stone-throwing crowds confronting police officers. Police retaliated with tear gas and batons.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court refused to hear a petition against the police action inside Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia University, where on Sunday they allegedly attacked students inside campus premises.Meanwhile, the Supreme Court refused to hear a petition against the police action inside Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia University, where on Sunday they allegedly attacked students inside campus premises.
A man injured during the protests on that day told the BBC he saw police shoot at him with a pistol or revolver.A man injured during the protests on that day told the BBC he saw police shoot at him with a pistol or revolver.
Authorities deny police used live ammunition and have suggested the wounds might be from shrapnel from tear gas canisters.Authorities deny police used live ammunition and have suggested the wounds might be from shrapnel from tear gas canisters.
Earlier this week, Mr Modi had attempted to calm tensions in a series of tweets saying "this is the time to maintain peace, unity and brotherhood".Earlier this week, Mr Modi had attempted to calm tensions in a series of tweets saying "this is the time to maintain peace, unity and brotherhood".
What is the law about?What is the law about?
The Act offers amnesty to non-Muslim illegal immigrants from three neighbouring Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. The Act offers amnesty to non-Muslim illegal immigrants from three neighbouring countries - Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
It amends India's 64-year-old citizenship law, which currently prohibits illegal migrants from becoming Indian citizens.It amends India's 64-year-old citizenship law, which currently prohibits illegal migrants from becoming Indian citizens.
It also expedites the path to Indian citizenship for members of six religious minority communities - Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian - if they can prove that they are from Pakistan, Afghanistan or Bangladesh. They will now only have to live or work in India for six years - instead of 11 years - before becoming eligible to apply for citizenship.It also expedites the path to Indian citizenship for members of six religious minority communities - Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian - if they can prove that they are from Pakistan, Afghanistan or Bangladesh. They will now only have to live or work in India for six years - instead of 11 years - before becoming eligible to apply for citizenship.
The government, led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), says this will give sanctuary to people fleeing religious persecution.The government, led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), says this will give sanctuary to people fleeing religious persecution.
Critics though say its actual agenda is to marginalise India's 200-million strong Muslim minority.Critics though say its actual agenda is to marginalise India's 200-million strong Muslim minority.
The fears are compounded by the fact that the government has announced its intentions of carrying out a nationwide exercise that will seek to "weed out infiltrators".
Home Minister Amit Shah proposed a nationwide register of citizens to ensure that "each and every infiltrator is identified and expelled from India" by 2024.
The National Citizen's Register (NRC) has already been carried out in the north-eastern state Assam and saw 1.9 million people effectively made stateless.
In the run-up to its publication, India's ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had supported the NRC, but changed tack days before the final list was published, saying it was ridden with errors.
The reason was that a lot of Bengali Hindus - a strong voter base for the BJP - were also left out of the list, and would possibly become illegal immigrants.
However, the NRC and the Citizenship Amendment Act are closely linked as the latter will help protect non-Muslims who are excluded from the register and face the threat of deportation or internment.